2010:
We were riding our bikes on Mountainvalley trail on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in May. As we rode on the trail, I saw something surreal, a blinding light enveloped Kari, "Kari!" I yelled, I couldn't see her anywhere. "Mariana!" I heard her scream for a while until her screams were muffled. Then she disappeared, all that was left was her diamond necklace. And ever since that day, I've worn that diamond necklace.
2019: Mariana Willow
Days passed by, turning into months. I'm twenty-three years old; it's been nine years since Kari's disappearance. Her disappearance remained a mystery in Louisiana. "How could she vanish under a blinding light?" asked a news reporter as she interviewed me, "I don't know, all I remember is that I couldn't see her as the blinding light surrounded her, and she disappeared." So many questions were asked, and all of a sudden, I couldn't take it anymore, I started to feel dizzy, tears were streaming down my face. I turned around, opened the door, and went inside the house, slamming the door behind me. I cried for about an hour, all of the memories of her flashed through my mind. We would go to the museums together, we loved to go on hikes together, and we would make bracelets together. As I climbed up the stairs to my room, I looked out the window, the news reporters left and the sun was starting to set.
Kari and I loved to ride our bikes on Mountainvalley trail as the sun began to set. We had a wonderful view, the sunlight flashed through the trees and the clouds were light pink. As I reach the top of the stairs, I notice a letter taped to my door. My heart began to pound so hard I couldn't hear myself think, my head was spinning. "Kari" I whispered, unable to believe that there's a possibility she came back.
Dear Mariana,
It's been a while since we've last spoke to each other. I just wanted to let you know that I am always with you, all of our memories together, all of the fun times we've had, those were the moments I cherished with you. But I have a question for you Mariana, why didn't you save me? Wasn't I your best friend? Why did you betray me?
Your loyal friend, Kari
After reading the letter, tears start to stream down my face. "You disappeared under a bright light!" "I tried to save you!" "It's not my fault Kari!!!" Then I crumble the letter and throw it across the hallway. "Why did she say I am always with you?" I think to myself… then after a few seconds, I realized she was talking about her necklace. All of a sudden, the diamond necklace started to glow so bright, it started to burn. I gasp, clutching at the diamond, it stopped burning as I rubbed the burned spot on my neck. I tried to unclasp the necklace but the metal clasp was locked.
Thump, thump, thump, I hear footsteps climbing down the fourth floor stairs to the third floor hallway. My voice trembles as I say "Hello? Is anyone there?" As I walk to the end of the hallway, my head starts spinning again, wondering what is happening, why Kari's diamond necklace started to burn, why her necklace locked in place. I'm so scared right now I can't even breathe. As I reach the end of the hallway, I look up the fourth floor stairs, my eyes meet Kari's, and her eyes pierce through me.
Kari starts yelling at me, "Why didn't you rescue me, Mariana?" "Aren't we best friends?" "Why did you betray me?" "You disappeared under a bright light, Kari!" "I tried to save you!" I yell back at her, I'm so angry she's blaming me for what happened, when she knows it's not my fault.
"That's not what happened! I wasn't enveloped by a bright light!" Kari's voice is so loud, the house starts to shake. There are tears streaming down her face, as she looks at me. There's a long silence between us, and I suddenly remember what actually happened that day.
The blind light that enveloped Kari was the sun as it shone between the trees. I couldn't see her, but I heard her scream and shout, before she was silent.
Realization flashes through my mind as I stumble backwards, Kari was kidnapped, I think to myself, My best friend was kidnapped in front of me and I couldn't even save her. "Kari, I'm so sorry", my voice trembles, then she starts crying, the diamond necklace burns again. "Kari, Why are you doing this to me!" I shriek.
"You betrayed me Mariana!!"
Then the house starts to shake again. I rush downstairs, my heart is beating so fast, I can barely breathe, I'm so afraid of who my best friend has became; something isn't right, I think to myself. As I grab my phone, I think about calling the police, I dial the phone number and press call, suddenly my phone stops ringing and powers off. "Kari" I whisper, my heart is beating so fast, my hands start to tremble.
I'm so scared right now, I need to escape this house. I rush down the stairs to the first floor, and try to unlock the door, but it's locked. "No!!!" I start to cry. My back is against the door in fear as Kari comes down the stairs and approaches me. I can't escape Kari now. I start to tremble, as she raises her hand towards me, "You said I was enveloped by a bright light, Mariana. Now it's time for you to meet that same fate."